Where to Order Groceries in Houston

You don’t need to set foot in an over-crowded grocery store.

It feels like Day 465 of quarantine. By now, we’re sure you’ve ordered your favorite local food and drink in support of Houston restaurants -- and because Chrissy Teigen’s banana bread doesn’t bake itself, you may have even felt the urge to try out that one room in your house with the stove. But for that, you need supplies.

Sure, you can attempt to secure a Fresh delivery via your sister’s Prime account, but where’s the local love in that? Instead, support Houston scoring groceries in a more community-centric way, and we don’t even need to set foot in any over-crowded grocery stores to do so. From drive-thru virtual farmers markets and curbside pickup/delivery at a local grocery darling to pre-ordered steaks from a seriously badass butcher shop, here’s how to food shop during quarantine.

River OaksEvery Saturday, farmers, ranchers, and vendors set up shop in this open-air market, rain-or-shine. Fortunately, the market has been able to weather even this storm, adding hand-washing stations, promoting cashless payments, and eliminating self-serve of any kind from the start of the crisis, and recently adding drive-thru service for pre-orders.

How to score the goods: Order online and pickup from 8:30am to 11:30am. For pickup, drive to the roof of the parking garage, then loop around to drop down to the second floor (see the step-by-step video guide). Upon arrival, an Urban Harvest rep will ask for your name the vendor you purchased from, then bring you the goods.

East EndIn response to the COVID-19 crisis, this urban farm -- Houston’s only private one within the 610 Loop -- stepped up to partner with other local farms to launch a virtual farm stand and online store. Now you can pre-order fresh foods for pickup, including the “Plow” produce bag featuring seven to 10 seasonal vegetables and herbs, pasture-raised eggs, and 100% grass-fed beef from Whitehurst Heritage Farms, and totally necessary pints of ice cream by Chocolate Wasted Ice Cream Co.

How to score the goods: Pre-order online for drive-through and pickup options on Wednesdays (order by midnight Tuesday) from 2-7pm and Saturdays (order by midnight Friday) from 9am-1pm.

None of us have a lot going on these days, so hitting up the drive-thru farm stand and this Recipe for Success Foundation farmers market will likely be the highlight of your Saturday. Make the most of it by loading up on eggs, collards, fennel, herb bundles, rainbow beets, summer squash, and local goods like fresh egg pasta from Downtown pizza & pasta ace, BOH. Just check out the online catalog to see what goodies are harvesting each week.

How to score the goods: Order online in advance by Friday at noon and your purchase will be ready for Saturday pickup (you can also scan the reader board from your car and purchase goods on the spot, or become a Farm Share member to get organic and seasonal produce delivered to your door every week)

Trinity GardensGame-changing chef Jonny Rhodes has often referenced his desire to open a self-sustained grocery store in the neighborhood he grew up in, Trinity Gardens (which is currently considered a food desert). In the wake of COVID-19, he’s done so. Broham’s Fine Soul Food & Groceries offers produce sourced from local farms (with eventual plans to sell produce straight from its own under-construction farm), plus a variety of signature goods from the kitchen of Rhodes’ of neo-soul restaurant, Indigo, including preserves and sauces, Creole pickles, cracked black pepper rubbed Angus roast beef, frozen King crab clusters, and more. The store’s mission is to “combat food apartheid & food inequality while inspiring the community to cook at home,” and you can help by popping in the less-crowded shop to stock your own kitchen.

How to score the goods: Check out its IG to see the latest, and head to the store from 10am to 7pm Tuesday through Sunday to shop.

WashingtonWant steaks? This is where to get ‘em. This Houston-based, New York-style Butcher Shop is open 11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday and 11am-7pm Sunday, with first-rate cuts including 55-day dry-aged ribeye, Wagyu filet, and the colossal Porterhouse. You can also pick up butcher burgers and dogs for the grill and deli meats from house pastrami to soppressata. Or, pre-order packages like the Family Grill Pack with steaks, dogs, burgers, bacon, and brews; or the Steakhouse Dinner for two, which’ll get you steaks (raw and ready-to-cook), a produce box, and a bottle of wine.

How to score the goods: Check out the menus online and call 832-767-4828 to order for pickup (for orders over $100 and within a 3 mile radius, a B&B manager will personally deliver the meal to you for no fee).

HoustonThey say “no store does more than my H-E-B,” and they are right. Before the WHO even declared the coronavirus a pandemic, this Texan-based, Texan-worshipped grocer took serious measures to promote the safety of both its customers and its staff (social distancing stickers, cart sanitization, plexiglass shields at registers, purchasing limits). While that meant we could no longer get fresh tortillas hot from the in-store tortillerias, it also meant Texans would be able to procure the essentials. Weeks later, the beloved grocery chain continues to prioritize safety and social distancing, adding doorstep delivery, adding more time slots, and expanding its curbside delivery hours while working hard to restock the store each night. They’ve also waived the personal shopper fee (usually $4.95) for all except same- or next-day curbside and delivery orders; and you’ll get text updates on any substitutions as your personal shopper works through your order.

How to score the goods: Order online for curbside pickup or doorstep delivery for a $5 delivery fee (current in-store hours are 7am-10pm); don’t forget to tip your couriers a little extra for working the frontlines.

How to score the goods: Fill out an online order form for curbside pickup or delivery and a Phoenicia member will contact you to confirm the pickup or delivery time, offer substitute items, and notify you of any out-of-stock items.

BellaireBernie’s Burger Bus is known for its righteous burgers, but the original location has been making waves for a different reason as of late -- offering customers the chance to shop its “Name Your Price” Bodega. Those in need can get goods and pay what they can, while those looking to support can help out Bernie’s employees and stock their homes with fresh goodness. Shop for Bernie’s premium ground beef blend, house condiments, fresh produce, Slow Dough buns, milk, eggs, and more.

How to score the goods: Order your favorite Bernie’s burgers online, and when you go to pick up the goods, ask about what’s available from the bodega (Bellaire only).

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